[bigsquat]

I was about to try to hijack the thread in the General section, but I realized this question is pretty much directed at the expats anyhow...

I am in the process of saving up a little chunk of money that I have calculated will allow me to stay in thailand in relative style for a couple years or so. I had planned to head there early next year. I've only made a couple trips to thailand so far, once for 6 weeks and the last for only 3, but I am an experienced traveller in my own right, so i understand the need for fluidity while on the road. If things didn't work out I won't be committed to staying in LOS- "the world is my oyster" (though I may not get 2 years in say, Japan).

Anyhow, I am working on the assumption that at least some of this is chest-beating for the election, and by next year I may be able to work out new options for staying long term. What concerns me is not so much whether or not I'm going to be able to stay legally, but the motivation behind these changes.

Even if this is just political posturing for an election, that would imply to me that the majority of Thais don't want us there. I guess TRT really is a xenophobic platform? Someone in another thread made the point that coming from UK/US or other "melting pot" countries, we have a much different perspective on diversity than the Thais (or most other "pure race?" countries).

Is this the feeling you get after staying in LOS long term? If so, why do you continue to stay? Is it because there IS a significant minority that do like us there? Inertia? My initial emotional reaction to these new regulations is "F that- I'm not gonna bring my money and positive energy there if I am really that unliked".

Is it time to begin "infiltrating" Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, or some other SE Asian country until we yet again reach that critical breaking point of "too many farang"?